Press Release
Contact: Dean Lockwood, Weapons Systems Analyst
Phone: (203) 426-0800
Fax: (203) 426-1964
Web site: www.forecastinternational.com
E-mail: dean.lockwood@forecast1.com
Forecast International, Inc.
22 Commerce Rd. Newtown, CT 06470 USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAESAR and Stryker MGS Gaining Share of
The Self-Propelled Artillery Market
NEWTOWN, Conn. [May 1, 2007] ―The international market
for self-propelled artillery remains a highly competitive and dynamic environment.
In its annual analysis “The Market for Self-Propelled Artillery Systems,” the
Forecast International Weapons Group projects that the market will produce over
4,500 self-propelled artillery systems, worth more than $13.51 billion, through
2016.
Dean Lockwood, a weapons systems analyst at Forecast
International, notes that most armies tend to rely on tried-and-true older
designs, such as the classic BAE Systems Land & Armaments (formerly United
Defense LP) M109 series. Newer designs tend to borrow liberally from this
benchmark design. According to Lockwood, “Reflecting the basic design concept
of the M109 style of self-propelled howitzer, the Samsung Techwin K9 Thunder
program continues to stand out as the clear market leader.” Forecast
International expects the K9 Thunder (along with its licensed TUSpH Storm
program in Turkey) to account for 19.17 percent of all self-propelled howitzer
production worldwide, worth a commanding 28.24 percent of the market, through
2016.
Competing with the classic M109 design is the emerging class
of wheeled designs, optimized for the rapidly deployable medium force option.
Designs such as the General Dynamics Land Systems Stryker Mobile Gun System
(MGS) and the Nexter (formerly Giat Industries) CAESAR offer the advantages of
lighter weight and enhanced mobility, as well as lower production and maintenance
costs. Lockwood notes that “over the past six years, our outlook for the
combined market share of wheeled designs has grown steadily. We now expect the
wheeled systems to account for 8.36 percent of all new production, worth 9.05
percent of the market, through 2016.”
Normally, the Forecast International Weapons Group does not
factor modernization and retrofit programs into market analyses, limiting its
forecast calculations to new-production systems only. However, the Paladin is a
unique case. Strictly speaking, the M109 is no longer a factor in this market
in terms of new production. Yet, the U.S. Army’s ongoing M109A6 Paladin
rebuild program is so complete that the end system is virtually a new-production
item. Lockwood explains that “for the purposes of our analysis, we treat the
ongoing M109A6 Paladin rebuild effort as equivalent to a new production
program.” Forecast International is projecting that the M109A6 Paladin rebuild
program will account for 6.62 percent of all new production, worth 1.12 percent
of the market, through 2016.
Despite the uncertainties of the post-Cold War world, new
threat scenarios, and transformational military doctrines, conventional tube
artillery continues to offer an unmatched capability to reliably deliver
accurate and effective fire under all conditions – when and where the infantryman
needs it.
Forecast International, Inc., is a leading provider of
Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power
systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA, Forecast
International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market
assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military
organizations, and governments worldwide. To arrange an interview with
Forecast International’s editors, please contact Ray Peterson, Vice President,
Research & Editorial Services (203-426-0800, ray.peterson@forecast1.com).
